The Portland daily press., 1887-08-29
CHEERS AND cRoANs.
How the Grand Army Demonstration
at Wheeling Was Caused.
Veterans Marching In the Gutter to
Avoid CIeveIand's Picture.
Governor Foraker Attempts to AIiay
the Prevailing Excitement.

NEW YORK, Aug. ga special to the
Sun today from Wheeling, West Virginia,
says, concerning the unpleasantness attend
ing the Grand Army parade there yesterday.
that Editor Taney of the Daily Register,
threw across Market street II by "A foot
banner bearing mammoth portrait of Pres
ident Cleveland above and below the inscrip-
tion "God Bless our President, Commander
in-Chief of our Army and Navy"
The appearance Of the banner created
some feeling among the Grand Army men
when it was first placed in position. The
feeling was deepened by an article Yesterday
morning in the Pittsburg Despatch which re-
ferred to the fre-eating qualities Of Editor
Taney and his willingness to see his entire
office wrecked before he would remove the
banner. This article further said that few
Of the more hot-headed members Of the
Grand Army had expressed a determination
Of tearing the banner down, or, in event of
its remaining up, they would refuse to march
under 1t. This article created great excite-
ment among the members of the Pittsburg
Posts, and when about 1000 veterans boarded
the cars in that city there was, ,deep-seated
conviction that something should be done to
show the public their feeling. On arriving
in Wheeling it was decided that the big BAN
ner should be lodged.
When the head of the first division, COM
posed OF Pennsylvania veterans, reached the
Register Office, Post No. Al, which led the
advance, went squarely under the flag. The
succeeding posts, however, crowded into the
gutter to avoid passing under the banner,
and either dropped their colors or trailed
them along the ground as they went by. As
organization after organization went by In
in, ba
throng of spectators became intense. Cheers
and grOans were given, and curses and epi-
thets were hurled at the picture.
Meanwhile the news of what was going on
was spread far and wide, and Democrats in
that portion of the city began to make their
way to the scene. The street was soon
blockaded with an excited mob, and things
began to wear serious aspect. Democratic
members of the Grand Army began to tear
OF their badges and leave the ranks, while
many officers Of the march hurried to and
fro urging their men over to the side Of the
street and commanding the flags to be
trailed.
The excitement reached its height when
Encampment No. /, of the Union Veteran
hadlIed ali t5e brsadtb ed Of he street ff1"a fop
square either way, leaving but narrow lane
along one side for the column.
The Legion, $50 strong, struck bee line
down the centre of the street, officers in
front clearing way as they passed under
the Cleveland banner with upright fiagstaffs.
Many Of the members took off their hats and
saluted.
In moment pandemonium was let loose.
The Grand Army men filed the air with
misses and groans. Democrats eheered un-
til they were hoarse, while threats Of vio-
lence were freely interchanged
During the remainder of the day the ex-
citement was great, and threats to tear down
the banner were made on every hand.
At great meeting Of 10000 people, which
Immediately followed the parade, an attempt
Foraker of Ohio, said he honored the senti-
ment expressed on the banner, and hoped all
would concur in it. This, however, did not
change the prevailing excitement sa